TY - JOUR
T1 - The vascular surgeon-scientist
T2 - A 15-year report of the Society for Vascular Surgery Foundation/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-mentored Career Development Award Program
AU - Kibbe, Melina R.
AU - Dardik, Alan
AU - Velazquez, Omaida C.
AU - Conte, Michael S.
N1 - Funding Information:
Originally named the William J. von Liebig K08 program in recognition of a catalytic gift, this award provided supplemental funding to selected vascular surgeons who were recipients of NIH K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Awards. Vascular surgeons submitted K08 applications to the NIH in a similar manner as any other investigator. Once funded, the SVS Foundation provided supplemental funds intended to provide protected time through salary support or much needed resources. The program expanded in 2005 to include vascular surgery recipients of NIH K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards. In 2007, the SVS Foundation partnered with the American College of Surgeons to continue funding this supplemental career development award program. Other societies, such as the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Triological Society, have followed suit and formed similar supplemental programs with the NIH to support career development awardees.
Funding Information:
In 2013, the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) undertook a comprehensive evaluation of its strategic goals and objectives and confirmed the critical importance of scientific discovery to the future of the specialty. Strengthening the pipeline of vascular surgeon-scientists was recognized as a key objective to achieve this strategic goal. The SVS Foundation Career Development Award Program was initiated in 1999 by the Lifeline Foundation of the SVS, in partnership with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Of note, the name of the Lifeline Foundation was changed to American Vascular Association in 2004 and to the SVS Foundation in 2011.
Funding Information:
Evaluation of the senior level SVS Foundation awardees (ie, those who obtained awards between 1999 and 2003) revealed that 80% have secured an NIH R01 grant. Evaluation of SVS Foundation awardees whose K awards have expired revealed that 59% have secured an NIH R01 grant. Thus, by conducting analyses similar to the other published studies, the SVS Foundation K-to-R transition statistic is outstanding and demonstrates that recipients of this program are able to convert their initial award into sustainable research programs, thereby fulfilling the ultimate goals of the program.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2015 Society for Vascular Surgery.
PY - 2015/4/1
Y1 - 2015/4/1
N2 - The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Foundation partnered with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1999 to initiate a competitive career development program that provides a financial supplement to surgeon-scientists receiving NIH K08 or K23 career development awards. Because the program has been in existence for 15 years, a review of the program's success has been performed. Between 1999 and 2013, 41 faculty members applied to the SVS Foundation program, and 29 from 21 different institutions were selected as awardees, resulting in a 71% success rate. Three women (10%) were among the 29 awardees. Nine awardees (31%) were supported by prior NIH F32 or T32 training grants. Awardees received their K award at an average of 3.5 years from the start of their faculty position, at the average age of 39.8 years. Thirteen awardees (45%) have subsequently received NIH R01 awards and five (17%) have received Veterans Affairs Merit Awards. Awardees received their first R01 at an average of 5.8 years after the start of their K award at the average age of 45.2 years. The SVS Foundation committed $9,350,000 to the Career Development Award Program. Awardees subsequently secured $45,108,174 in NIH and Veterans Affairs funds, resulting in a 4.8-fold financial return on investment for the SVS Foundation program. Overall, 23 awardees (79%) were promoted from assistant to associate professor in an average of 5.9 years, and 10 (34%) were promoted from associate professor to professor in an average of 5.2 years. Six awardees (21%) hold endowed professorships and four (14%) have secured tenure. Many of the awardees hold positions of leadership, including 12 (41%) as division chief and two (7%) as vice chair within a department of surgery. Eight (28%) awardees have served as president of a regional or national society. Lastly, 47 postdoctoral trainees have been mentored by recipients of the SVS Foundation Career Development Program on training grants or postdoctoral research fellowships. The SVS Foundation Career Development Program has been an effective vehicle to promote the development and independence of vascular surgeon-scientists in the field of academic vascular surgery.
AB - The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Foundation partnered with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1999 to initiate a competitive career development program that provides a financial supplement to surgeon-scientists receiving NIH K08 or K23 career development awards. Because the program has been in existence for 15 years, a review of the program's success has been performed. Between 1999 and 2013, 41 faculty members applied to the SVS Foundation program, and 29 from 21 different institutions were selected as awardees, resulting in a 71% success rate. Three women (10%) were among the 29 awardees. Nine awardees (31%) were supported by prior NIH F32 or T32 training grants. Awardees received their K award at an average of 3.5 years from the start of their faculty position, at the average age of 39.8 years. Thirteen awardees (45%) have subsequently received NIH R01 awards and five (17%) have received Veterans Affairs Merit Awards. Awardees received their first R01 at an average of 5.8 years after the start of their K award at the average age of 45.2 years. The SVS Foundation committed $9,350,000 to the Career Development Award Program. Awardees subsequently secured $45,108,174 in NIH and Veterans Affairs funds, resulting in a 4.8-fold financial return on investment for the SVS Foundation program. Overall, 23 awardees (79%) were promoted from assistant to associate professor in an average of 5.9 years, and 10 (34%) were promoted from associate professor to professor in an average of 5.2 years. Six awardees (21%) hold endowed professorships and four (14%) have secured tenure. Many of the awardees hold positions of leadership, including 12 (41%) as division chief and two (7%) as vice chair within a department of surgery. Eight (28%) awardees have served as president of a regional or national society. Lastly, 47 postdoctoral trainees have been mentored by recipients of the SVS Foundation Career Development Program on training grants or postdoctoral research fellowships. The SVS Foundation Career Development Program has been an effective vehicle to promote the development and independence of vascular surgeon-scientists in the field of academic vascular surgery.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925379462&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84925379462&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jvs.2014.12.058
DO - 10.1016/j.jvs.2014.12.058
M3 - Article
C2 - 25814368
AN - SCOPUS:84925379462
VL - 61
SP - 1050-1057.e3
JO - Journal of Vascular Surgery
JF - Journal of Vascular Surgery
SN - 0741-5214
IS - 4
ER -